Board Control Grip Step for Snowboards

ABSTRACT

This invention would significantly improve the ease of riding a snowboard on ski lifts where typically one foot must remain unbound to push off with. The invention allows for control of the board specifically through the diversion of the gravitational force of weight of the rider through forces of tension, elasticity, and leverage. The diversion of these forces allows the rider to steer roughly in the same manner as if their foot was bound.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to the classification of snowboarding. Thisinvention can be used in accordance with a snowboard or a snowboardbinding but it is, in itself, a separate entity with a separatefunction. This invention, serves as a mechanism to steer the snowboardwhile one foot is unbound. This technology is currently insufficient orunavailable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein described serves to allow the rider of thesnowboard to control the snowboard when one foot must be unbound,typically when utilizing ski lift's or traversing flat terrain. Theinvention serves to do this by providing a step mechanism that divertsthe downward force of the rider, which is his weight, into modes thatallow the rider to manipulate the edges of the snowboard much like therider is able to do when both feet are bound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The following descriptions explain the figures in the drawings section:

FIG. 1: This figure depicts the invention with the spring shown. Thespring is not shown on the other views for simplicity of viewing. Thespring is referenced as reference character 1 on the figure.

FIG. 2: This figure depicts the top view of the invention without thesprings as mentioned in the description above. Reference character 3depicts the placement of the optional toe grip which will be explainedin FIG. 4.

FIG. 3: This figure depicts the right side view of the invention.Reference character 2 depicts the hinge which is also described on FIG.2 denoted by the word hinge. This hinge acts to flip up the grip step inonce the rider has bound his foot and is ready to ride with both feetstrapped in. It acts to get the step out of the way and make the boardlook more streamlined.

FIG. 4: This figure depicts the optional toe grip that can be placed onthe grip step to help fasten the rider's unbound foot to the step moresecurely. Reference character 4 shows the surface that would attach tothe surface depicted in reference character 3 on FIG. 2. This figuredepicts the front view of this device as other views are not necessarybecause of the simplicity of this piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein can consist of any of various materialsof construction, such as, but not limited to plastic, wood, metal, orother and will be referred to as the grip step but is a shortened namefor simplicity sake but is the same invention described under the titleBoard Control Grip Step for Snowboards. The grip step can be attached tothe board in one of two ways. The first is that the grip step can bescrewed directly onto the board either underneath the existing bindingor elsewhere. The second way is that the grip step can be part of thebinding itself.

The grip step has a platform for the purpose of placing the foot. Theplatform will have a rough surface so as to maintain contact between therider's foot and the grip step. The platform could be angled or it maybe flat. The platform is connected by an angled piece to the part thatactually contacts the snowboard. The platform may have a toe piece as adesign option which can be seen in FIG. 4, reference character 4. Thispiece would rest on the surface of the platform seen in FIG. 2,reference character 3. It would act to secure the foot.

The grip step is under a tension force. This tension force can besupplied by a spring (as seen in FIG. 1, reference character 1), or bythe elasticity of the material of construction itself.

The method for constructing the grip step can involve the manufacture ofindividual parts that when assembled form the whole. These parts caninclude, but are not limited to, the connecting plate that is cut from asheet of material or is molded into a certain shape or size. This plateshould be as wide as the binding in the direction parallel to the foot,but should be wider than the binding in the direction perpendicular tothe foot. Angular pieces that are made to direct the downward force ofthe foot into a useful direction for steering. The angular pieces canalso be cut from a sheet of material or molded into a certain size andshape. The last major constituent of the apparatus is the actual stepthat can also be cut from a material sheet or molded in a certain shapeor size. These three main constituents make up the body of the inventionwith supplement devices such as springs (reference character 1), hinges(reference character 2), pins, screws, and other hardware completing theinvention. These can be made as they are currently mass produced and nospecial construction is required for them.

The utilization of the grip step is the key to this invention. Thereunique construction and placement of this invention on the snowboardallows steering and control of the snowboard when on foot is unboundsuperior to that of any device currently available. The diverteddirections of the downward force exerted in the grip step by the rider'sunbound foot provides a means for steering by manipulating the edges ofthe snowboard much like what is done when the foot is bound. Also, thedownward force of the rider's unbound foot, when contacted with thegripped surface of the grip step and the counterforce supplied by aspring or elasticity of the material itself helps to maintain contactbetween the unbound foot of the rider and the grip step and, ultimately,the snowboard. The grip step is supplying two main functions then. Firstis the ability to steer the snowboard using the unbound foot. Second isthe ability to stay in contact with the board without slipping

The best way that the grip step can provide steering of the snowboard bythe unbound foot is by diverting forces exerted by the unbound foot'sheal or toe pressure forces much as is done when the foot is bound,however, instead of lifting the foot and leaning as is possible when thefoot is bound, the grip step could use a fulcrum and lever apparatus todivert the force in the proper direction. By exerting pressure on thetoe of the step, for instance, would put pressure on thediagonal/angular pieces that connect to the heel part of the base plate.A fulcrum in the form of a metal block could contact the angular pieceacting as the lever and picking up the heel edge of the snowboard so,just as when the foot is bound, toe pressure would allow one to applypressure to the toe edge of the snowboard and heel pressure would allowone to apply pressure to the heel edge of the snowboard, enablingsteering to the right and left respectively.

1. This invention uses a sprung or tension force that counteracts theweight of a rider and diverts the gravitational force of the rider toallow steering of a snowboard by and unbound foot.